Although obesity is linked to a variety of health risks, new research indicates that obese patients may have an advantage over nonobese patients in certain health situations, including septic shock and acute asthma exacerbation.

In two separate studies presented at CHEST 2012, the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians, researchers compared outcomes in obese (BMI >30) vs nonobese patients with either septic shock or acute asthma exacerbation. Results showed that, although obese patients with asthma are more at risk for asthma exacerbations, near fatal exacerbations were more prevalent in nonobese patients.